Simple bluetooth software development kit

Abstract

A software tool and method implementing an application program interface (API) for adding Bluetooth wireless functionality to a user interface module are provided. The A software development kit (SDK) provides a layered framework that defines a plurality of interacting software layers for communicating data and commands between a user interface module and a Bluetooth communications stack. The SDK includes a number of pre-coded API function modules for implementing various interface functions. A plurality of pre-coded Bluetooth function mapping instruction sets are provided for mapping function calls from the API function modules to the Bluetooth communications stack. The layered framework may include an API layer; a Bluetooth adaption layer, a PIM module or PIM adaption layer, and a voice recognition/text-to-speech module. The API function modules are identified and exposed in a Bluetooth API layer according to a simplified command syntax associated with the SDK.

1 . A software tool for implementing an application program interface (API) adding Bluetooth wireless functionality to a user interface module, the software tool comprising:
 a layered framework defining a plurality of interacting functional layers for communicating data and commands between the user interface module and a Bluetooth communications stack;   a plurality of pre-coded API function modules for implementing interface functions;   a plurality of pre-coded Bluetooth function mapping instruction sets; and   a simplified command syntax for identifying and selecting pre-coded API function modules and a pre-coded Bluetooth interface function mapping instruction set to be included in the various functional layers of the layered framework according to the interface functions to be performed by the user interface module.   
   
   
       2 . The software tool of  claim 1  wherein the layered framework includes an API layer adapted to receive one or more pre-coded API function modules. 
   
   
       3 . The software tool of  claim 2  wherein the pre-coded API function modules included at least one of: a devices API module; a Personal Information Management Module (PIM) API; a Car Stereo Streaming Audio API module; a Hands Free Phone API module; or a Voice Recognition/Text-To-Speech API module. 
   
   
       4 . The software tool of  claim 1  wherein the layered framework includes a Bluetooth adaption layer configured to receive one of a plurality of pre-coded Bluetooth interface function mapping instruction sets, the selected Bluetooth function mapping instruction set adapted to map function calls from selected API function modules to Bluetooth commands associated with a specified Bluetooth stack included in the user interface module. 
   
   
       5 . The software tool of  claim 1  wherein the layered framework further includes a personal information management module (PIM) adaption layer configured to receive a PIM instruction set adapted to interface with a specified PIM database. 
   
   
       6 . The software tool of  claim 1  further comprising a voice recognition/text-to-speech API and a voice recognition engine adaption layer, the voice recognition adaption layer configured to receive software instructions adapted to execute functions called for by the voice recognition/text-to-speech API on a specified voice recognition/text-to-speech engine. 
   
   
       7 . A method of implementing an application program interface (API) to add Bluetooth wireless functionality to a user interface module, the API having a multi-layered functional architecture for communicating interface commands and data between the user interface module and a Bluetooth stack, the multi-layered functional architecture including an API layer configured to implement one or more interface functions via the Bluetooth stack, a Bluetooth adaption layer configured to implement software instructions for mapping interface commands and data between the API layer and the Bluetooth stack, and a personal information management (PIM) module adaption layer configured to implement software instructions for mapping PIM commands and data between the API layer and a PIM database associated with the user interface module, the method comprising:
 selecting API functions from a library of pre-coded API function modules adapted to provide one or more interface functions for interacting with an external device and including the selected API function modules in the API layer;   selecting a set of pre-coded mapping instructions for mapping Bluetooth function calls from the API function modules to the Bluetooth stack, the mapping instructions adapted to interface with the Bluetooth stack employed in the user interface module, and inserting the set of mapping instructions in the Bluetooth adaption layer;   selecting a set of pre-coded PIM mapping instructions for mapping PIM commands from a PIM API to a PIM database, and inserting the selected set of PIM mapping instructions in the PIM adaption layer.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the library of pre-coded API function modules comprises at least one of: a devices API adapted to manage external Bluetooth enabled devices adapted to communicate with the user interface module; a PIM API adapted to synchronize PIM data stored on the PIM database with PIM data stored on an external device; a hands free phone API for controlling a cellular telephone via the user interface module; a car stereo audio streaming API for receiving streaming audio data from an external device to be played back via an audio layer associated with the user interface module; a headphone audio streaming API for streaming audio data from the user interface module to an external wireless headphone set; or a voice recognition/text-to-speech API. 
   
   
       9 . A software development kit for implementing an application program interface (API) adding Bluetooth wireless functionality to a user interface module, the software development kit comprising:
 a plurality of pre-coded function modules;   a layered functional architecture for organizing interactions between software components of the API; and   a simplified command syntax for selecting pre-coded software modules to be added to the various layers of the layered architecture to provide desired Bluetooth wireless functionality to the user interface module.   
   
   
       10 . The software development kit of  claim 9  wherein the simplified command syntax comprises a limited set of functional commands abstracted from a larger set of Bluetooth commands such that a simplified command syntax command encompasses all of the corresponding Bluetooth commands necessary to carry out a function associated with the simplified command syntax command. 
   
   
       11 . The software development kit of  claim 9  wherein the layered architecture comprises an API layer for receiving selected pre-coded function modules for implementing specified interface functions. 
   
   
       12 . The software development kit of  claim 11  wherein the layered architecture further comprises a Bluetooth adaption layer adapted to receive a set of mapping instructions for mapping function calls from the selected pre-coded function modules in the API layer to Bluetooth function calls adapted to interact with a Bluetooth stack from a specified Bluetooth supplier. 
   
   
       13 . The software development kit of  claim 12  wherein the layered architecture further comprises a personal information management (PIM) adaption layer adapted to receive a set of mapping instructions for mapping PIM commands and data between a PIM database associated with the user interface module and an external device. 
   
   
       14 . The software development kit of  claim 10  wherein the layered architecture further comprises a personal information management (PIM) adaption layer adapted to receive a set of mapping instructions for mapping PIM commands and data between a PIM database associated with the user interface module and an external device. 
   
   
       15 . The software development kit of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a PIM API module. 
   
   
       16 . The software development kit of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Devices API for managing Bluetooth devices. 
   
   
       17 . The software development kit of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Hands Free Phone API module. 
   
   
       18 . The software development kit of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Car Stereo Audio Streaming API module. 
   
   
       19 . The software development kit of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Headphone Audio Streaming API module. 
   
   
       20 . A software architecture for implementing an application programming interface for providing Bluetooth wireless communications functionality to a user interface, the software architecture comprising:
 an API layer adapted to expose API modules implementing specific wireless communication functions to a user interface application program, the API modules adapted to receive input commands and data from and send output data to the user interface, and to interact with external devices via a wireless Bluetooth link;   a Bluetooth adaption layer adapted to include mapping instructions for mapping generic Bluetooth function calls from the API modules of the API layer to specific Bluetooth commands associated with a specified Bluetooth stack.   
   
   
       21 . The software architecture of  claim 20  further comprising a plurality of different sets of Bluetooth function mapping instructions corresponding to Bluetooth communications stacks provided by different Bluetooth providers such that a particular set of Bluetooth function mapping instructions may be selected to be included in the Bluetooth adaption layer according to the particular Bluetooth communications stack included in the user interface module. 
   
   
       22 . The software architecture of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a PIM API module. 
   
   
       23 . The software development kit of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Devices API for managing Bluetooth devices. 
   
   
       24 . The software development kit of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Hands Free Phone API module. 
   
   
       25 . The software development kit of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Car Stereo Audio Streaming API module. 
   
   
       26 . The software development kit of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Headphone Audio Streaming API module. 
   
   
       27 . A software architecture for implementing an application programming interface (API) for providing Bluetooth wireless communications functionality to a user interface, the software architecture comprising:
 an application programming interface layer adapted to include API modules implementing specific wireless communication functions, the API modules adapted to receive input commands and data from, and provide output data to, the user interface, and to interact with external devices via a Bluetooth link;   a PIM adaption layer adapted to include mapping instructions for mapping data and commands between the API modules and external devices and a specified PIM database included with the user interface module.   
   
   
       28 . The software architecture of  claim 27  further comprising a plurality of different sets of PIM mapping instructions for mapping PIM commands and data between the API modules and external devices and different types of PIM databases such that a particular set of PIM mapping instructions may be selected to be included in the PIM adaption layer according to the particular type of PIM database included in the user interface module. 
   
   
       29 . The software development kit of  claim 28  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a PIM API module. 
   
   
       30 . The software development kit of  claim 28  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Devices API for managing Bluetooth devices. 
   
   
       31 . The software development kit of  claim 28  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Hands Free Phone API module. 
   
   
       32 . The software development kit of  claim 28  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Car Stereo Audio Streaming API module. 
   
   
       33 . The software development kit of  claim 28  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Headphone Audio Streaming API module. 
   
   
       34 . A software architecture for implementing an API for providing Bluetooth wireless communications functions on a user interface module, the software architecture comprising:
 an API layer adapted to hold a plurality of API function modules adapted to implement various Bluetooth functions;   a Bluetooth adaption layer adapted to hold mapping instructions for mapping Bluetooth function calls from the various function modules in the API layer to a Bluetooth stack, the Bluetooth adaption layer adapted to receive alternative sets of mapping instructions to map the API function calls to Bluetooth stacks provided by different Bluetooth providers.   
   
   
       35 . The software development kit of  claim 34  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a PIM API module. 
   
   
       36 . The software development kit of  claim 34  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Devices API for managing Bluetooth devices. 
   
   
       37 . The software development kit of  claim 34  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Hands Free Phone API module. 
   
   
       38 . The software development kit of  claim 34  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Car Stereo Audio Streaming API module. 
   
   
       39 . The software development kit of  claim 34  wherein the plurality of pre-coded function modules comprises a Headphone Audio Streaming API module. 
   
   
       40 . A method of implementing a wireless communications API for providing Bluetooth wireless communication functions in a user interface module, the method comprising:
 creating a multi-layered software architecture for communicating commands and data between a user interface and a Bluetooth stack, the multi-layered architecture including an API layer and a Bluetooth adaption layer;   creating a plurality of pre-coded API function modules for providing various wireless communication functions, the pre-coded API function modules including various generic Bluetooth function calls for communicating commands and data between the user interface module and external devices;   creating a plurality of Bluetooth adaption instruction sets for mapping the generic function calls of the pre-coded API function modules to specific Bluetooth communication stacks; and   providing a simplified command syntax allowing a user interface developer to select API function modules to be included in the wireless communications API, and a Bluetooth adaption instruction set based on a specified Bluetooth stack.   
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the user interface module includes a personal information management (PIM) database, and the multi-layered architecture further includes a PIM adaption layer, the method further comprising providing a plurality of PIM adaption instruction sets for mapping generic PIM function calls and data from a pre-coded PIM function module to the PIM database, and selecting a PIM adaption instruction set based on the type of PIM database included in the user interface module. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein implementing a plurality of API function modules includes implementing a PIM synchronization API for synchronizing PIM data stored on the PIM database of the user interface with PIM data stored on an external device via a Bluetooth wireless communication. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the external device is a personal digital assistant. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the external device is a cellular telephone. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 40  wherein implementing a plurality of API function modules includes implementing a hands free phone API for operating a cellular telephone through the user interface via a Bluetooth wireless connection. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 40  wherein implementing a plurality of API function modules includes implementing a Devices API adapted to manage a plurality external devices adapted to communicate with the user interface over a Bluetooth wireless link. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 40  wherein implementing a plurality of API function modules includes implementing a Car Stereo Audio Streaming Audio API for receiving streaming audio from an external source over a Bluetooth wireless link to be playing over an audio playback layer associated the user interface module. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 40  wherein implementing a plurality of API function modules includes implementing a Headphone Audio Streaming API for streaming audio from an audio playback layer associated with the user interface to an external headphone set over a Bluetooth wireless link.